September To-Do's

post from Suburban Spunk on 07 September 2011 11:35:18 PM. © Suburban Spunk

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I think most people are familiar with the term 'spring cleaning'. I prefer to do this sort of deep-cleaning more than just once a year, in fact, I deep clean at the start of every season. Over the long Labor Day weekend, I spent most of Saturday doing my 'September cleaning' list.

I used this article from Style at Home as a guide. The article lists the following 10 items to complete in September (my notes are in blue):

1 Cut the clutter
Getting organized is a significantly easier task when there's less stuff to deal with. So before tackling bigger projects, sweep through your house and clear out any clutter that's accumulated while you've been outdoors enjoying the hot and sunny weather. *I did an annual purging of my closets and created 2 piles: donate and toss. I also went through my pantry, linen and bathroom closet and tossed expired food, meds etc.

2 Start your fall garden clean-up

viaAfter a long summer enjoying your garden, it's time to start preparing it for the winter chill. Read our suggestions for mid-September garden chores, set aside a few hours on a sunny afternoon and get started! *We spent some time pulling weeds that had invaded my rose bushes, trimmed shrubbery and tossed the flowers that didn't make it through the Summer heat.

3 Organize the broom closet
Your household chores will go a lot faster once your cleaning supplies are under control. Check out our suggestions for a clutter-free broom closet -- including organization ideas for those of us without one! *I went through my cleaning supplies and purchased more of what I was low on (Pine Sol, Pledge Floor Cleaner etc). I keep cleaning supplies for my first floor in the pantry (away from food!) and the upstairs cleaning supplies are kept in my newly complete laundry room.

4 Get a head start on holiday correspondence
It may only be September, but it won't be long before it's time to decorate and prepare for the holiday season. One thing you can get out of the way right now is organizing your stationery and writing supplies. Make sure your address book is up to date and plan ahead for buying stamps, cards and invitations. *Yikes, I haven't even thought about this!

5 Prep the front hall closet for winter coats

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With the fall fashion season comes a closet full of coats, whether they're new purchases or taken out of storage and dry-cleaned. Don't be caught scrambling for a coat on the first chilly morning of autumn! *I consolidated my winter coats into one closet in an extra bedroom and tossed gloves that were missing it's pair etc. It pained me to even look at Winter wear but I feel better now that it's all done.

6 Catalogue the summer's photos
Whether your camera is digital or old-fashioned, if you want to enjoy your summer photos come fall and winter, they need to be organized. We've got solutions for both your boxes and envelopes full of photos and the files on your computer. *Yes, I went through and uploaded all my pics on my memory card and organized them in e-files (my birthday, house projects, lake time etc). It feels so nice to have this done and no I'm not worried about losing my memory card.

7 Focus on clean air
As the weather gets cooler and you keep windows open less often, your home will be getting less and less fresh air from outside. Help keep indoor air quality high by clearing chemicals (try switching to biodegradable cleaning products) and investing in a few new houseplants -- English ivy, peace lilies and gerbera daisies are top picks for cleaning indoor air of pollutants. * We FINALLY have had some nice, bearable weather in Kansas City. After weeks of 100+ degree weather, I have taken full advantage of the much cooler weather this week. Every square inch of the house has been dusted and cleaned and the windows have been open with a nice breeze of fresh air blowing through the house.

8 Pet peeves begone!
Pick one thing (or more!) in your house that drives you crazy -- whether it be the plastic containers always falling off the kitchen shelves or the shoes that pile up in the entryway -- and fix it. Then sit on the couch with a cup of tea and enjoy the feeling of accomplishment. *My random and lackluster accent pillows on my sofa have bothered me for months. On a whim during my lunch hour today, I stopped in HomeGoods and purchased a couple of fun, colorful pillows. I can't believe I waited so long to do this!

9 Get started on fall entertaining

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As patio party season ends, the time for more formal indoor entertaining begins. But don't hesitate to throw a few last al fresco parties if the weather holds up! Pick up a few new cookbooks and start testing recipes, and then work on invitations for your next dinner party. *We hosted a Labor Day BBQ for our families. It was a great day and a wonderful way to say goodbye to Summer (as sad as that it). 11 adults and 3 kiddos ate burgers, brats and dogs and enjoyed each other's company. Truly, a great day! Excited to host another dinner party in the near future as well.

10 Plan your next project
From a major kitchen reno to a paint touch-up in the guest bedroom, any home project will go smoother if it's well planned. Even if you're still in the dreaming stage, that's no reason not to plan! Pick up some books and magazines for inspiration and spend a morning with them and a cup or two of coffee -- and a notebook to jot down ideas! *I keep a checklist of all the home projects I want to complete. My only problem is for every item I check off, I find myself adding 2 new to-do's! I did get to check off quite a few this weekend.

I hope this Style at Home article helped you as much as it did me. I keep a clean house and have a general checklist that I go through. However, it's always nice to have a fresh perspective and inspiration when it comes to organizing and cleaning.

Happy (almost) Fall Y'all! -S

Read The Full Article:
http://www.suburbanspunkdesign.com/2011/09/september-to-dos.html

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How to Paint Fire

post from How to of the Day on 07 September 2011 11:00:00 PM. © How to of the Day

Painting fire is a great way to add a dramatic, warm or interesting feeling to a drawing or painting. While drawing or painting realistic-looking fire might seem very complicated, it's actually not very difficult once you understand what fire is and see how to capture the movement of flames. This article describes the process as applicable to both a computer aided drawing program or pencil/paint on paper.

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http://www.wikihow.com/Paint-Fire

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Hookin Up with HoH #65

post from House of Hepworths "hoh" on 07 September 2011 10:11:49 PM. © House of Hepworths "hoh"

Tomorrow night (Thursday) is the last day to enter the My Job Chart Giveaway. They are giving away one $50 Visa Gift Card. All you have to do is “LIKE” them on Facebook. No Strings Attached. Click HERE to enter the giveaway. And now, for the hottest party on the blogsphere block… Please refrain from [...]

This post is sponsored by:
Ribbons and Bows Oh My!
My Job Chart
DISChangers

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http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HouseOfHepworths/~3/pb0ZdWWjE6w/

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Wall Sconce Installation - Build.com

post from Do It Yourself Videos - Metacafe on 07 September 2011 08:00:00 PM. © Do It Yourself Videos - Metacafe

How to install a wall sconce. Changing out your old wall sconce can be a simple do-it-youself project. Follow Kyleen Bromley of Build.com as she shows you the step-by-step process of replacing and installing an indoor wall sconce.
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Click here to watch the video (01:58)
Submitted By: Build.com
Tags: Build.com Home Improvement Milan Rosan Brent Holland DIY Do It Yourself Repair Interior Design Design Kitchen Faucet Sink Handle Lighting Lights Plumbing Tips Instructions Educational Instructional Renovation Water Light Wall Sconce
Categories: How To

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http://www.metacafe.com/watch/7190428/wall_sconce_installation_build_com/

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USB Burner! - Scientific Tuesdays

post from Do It Yourself Videos - Metacafe on 07 September 2011 08:00:00 PM. © Do It Yourself Videos - Metacafe

Create a USB powered hot plate out of your old junk!
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Submitted By: Revision3
Tags: Scientific Tuesday Scientific Tuesdays Householdhacker Household Hacker Usb Burner Usb Hot Plate Usb Warmer Usb Coffee Do It Yourself Build Your Own DIY
Categories: How To Science & Tech

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http://www.metacafe.com/watch/7184008/usb_burner_scientific_tuesdays/

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How to Unlock a Bathroom Door In Case Of
Emergency- Build.com

post from Do It Yourself Videos - Metacafe on 07 September 2011 08:00:00 PM. © Do It Yourself Videos - Metacafe

Ever get locked out of your bathroom? Milan Rosan from Build.com shows us some easy ways to get into most privacy doors.
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Click here to watch the video (00:51)
Submitted By: Build.com
Tags: Build.com Home Improvement Milan Rosan Brent Holland DIY Do It Yourself Repair Interior Design Design Kitchen Faucet Sink Handle Lighting Lights Plumbing Tips Instructions Educational Instructional Renovation Water Light Appliances
Categories: How To

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ergency_build_com/

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Rumors Mounting for Imminent Logic Pro X, a la
Final Cut Pro X; No-Brainer Speculation

post from Create Digital Music on 07 September 2011 07:48:14 PM. © Create Digital Music

I generally avoid commenting on Apple rumors, lest I find a severed horse head atop my MacBook Pro, but this one seems simply to be obvious. Apple took a radical approach to Final Cut Pro X (and Motion), giving them full overhauls and new UIs, 64-bit support, and distribution through the online Mac App Store … Continue →

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Reader Mail: Another Demo of the Analog Drum
Machine, Tempest

post from Create Digital Music on 07 September 2011 07:14:57 PM. © Create Digital Music

Can’t get enough of the upcoming drum machine, Tempest, by Roger Linn and Dave Smith? Reader Josh Decker sends in this video by Josh’s friend Rob Baker, aka Redivider, tearing up the machine as a performance instrument. Also, follow the comment thread on our previous post for some follow-up from Dave Smith Instruments to reader … Continue →

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How to Become a Licensed Real Estate Agent in
Florida

You've been thinking about it, and now you're sure. You want to be a real estate agent! Now, what do you have to do? Like most professions, you can't just go out there and start selling and listing. The real estate profession is heavily regulated on all sides, and that includes the people selling. As with most state regulated things, it can be very confusing and overwhelming when trying to figure out all the rules. The steps below are laid out to help you find your way through these regulations and on to a career as a Licensed Real Estate Agent in Florida!

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http://www.wikihow.com/Become-a-Licensed-Real-Estate-Agent-in-Florida

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Ostrich Eggbot

What's just like an Eggbot but quite a bit larger? The all-new Ostrich Eggbot!

So yes, just like the Eggbot, it's a machine capable of drawing on the surface of all kinds of spherical and egg-shaped objects. As the name implies, the Ostrich Eggbot is big enough to (very easily) fit ostrich eggs-- one is shown above with a (rather large) chicken egg for scale. And, like the Eggbot, we're releasing it as an open source kit.

Given all that, we feel confident to suggest that the Ostrich Eggbot may already be quite possibly the worlds finest open-source CNC ostrich-egg decorating machine.

The Ostrich Eggbot chassis is CNC cut from hardwood plywood which is then laser engraved with calibration and assembly marks. Versus the original (standard-size) Eggbot, the feet have been moved to the sides for a wider base to give better stability with differently sized objects.

This is a glass ball, 6 inches in diameter, which has been decorated in a motley pattern, with some colored Sharpie markers-- it almost looks like stained glass.

The range of printable objects extends from chicken eggs all the way up past ostrich eggs, and includes things like christmas ornaments, pool (billiards) balls, and all kinds of egg-shaped and spherical objects from 2.25 to 6.25 inches in diameter. (The blue-green alien-egg looking thing is an emu egg. It fits, too.)

One of the big challenges in the design was that the new "pen arm" had to be much longer, and consequently to be much, much stiffer so that it doesn't flex and flop around as the pen is moved.

The new pen arm and its mount have been fully redesigned and are now CNC carved from 1/2" hardwood plywood, which provides a stiffening member along the side. The top section of the pen arm-- where the servo motor and hinged pen holder mount --can also now be mounted at two different heights. The lower register allows plotting on small-diameter objects (like chicken eggs) that would otherwise cause the bottom end of the pen arm to hit the tabletop where the robot is sitting.

The Ostrich Eggbot uses the same pen holders ("distal pen arms" in the jargon) as the original Eggbot, so all the same range of pens, pencils, markers, chalk, and crayons can fit in the Ostrich version too. Especially cool is that the engraver kit still fits, now making it possible to do things like engrave on emu egg shells.

Here's how the Ostrich Eggbot looks next to the original. The original Eggbot just about fits inside the Ostrich Eggbot. The original size is still much better for working with smaller objects like ping pong balls and chicken eggs-- but it only can draw on objects up to about 4.25 inches (10 cm) in diameter. The Ostrich chassis doesn't go as small, but it does go up to 6.25 inches (16 cm) in diameter, and works with much longer objects as well.

The Ostrich Eggbot kit has the exact same "active" components-- the same motors and EiBotBoard driver board --as the Original Eggbot kit, so we're making an upgrade kit available (in addition to the standalone version), for those who already have an Eggbot or want to be able to print on everything from very small to very large objects.

The Ostrich Eggbot is available now at our webstore, Evil Mad Science.

Documentation for the Ostrich Eggbot is hosted at the Evil Mad Science Wiki, as a supplement to the more complete Eggbot documentation, which is also hosted there.

Read The Full Article:
http://www.evilmadscientist.com/article.php/ostrich

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